Beet digger and topper.



W. C. MAUER.

BEBT BIGGER AND TOPPER.

APPLIOATION FILED ocT.17 1908.

Patentedr Oct. 26, 1909.

A TTOHNE Y S 1s mms. c who man y W. o. MAUBR. BERT BIGGER AND TOPPER, APPLICATION FILED 0OT.17,1908.

Patented Oct. 26, 1909.

4 sHEETssEEET 2.

w/r/vfssfs /NvE/vro We@ 60. )koda VWLL'IAM UMAUER.

2. ya @n By A TTOHNEYS W. C. MAUER. BEET BIGGER AND TOPPER. APLIoATIoN FILED ooT.17, 190s.

Patented Oct. 26, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W/TNESSES I AJM@ )QM .WILLIAM UMAUER.

INVENTOH A TTOHNE YS Noms reruns. luc., Lnnn.. wnsmnnron. n t.

W. C. MAUER.

BEET BIGGER AND TOPPER. APPLIUATION Hmm oT.1'1, 190s.

Patented Oct. 26, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

mill-l lll/111111 2% /NVE/vf? ,JW Mw. WILLIAM E MAUER.

@gf/1W A BVM* W/ T/VE SSE S noma rnrnsmc.umlwmnman u c gaging a cross bar 15 connecting the WILLIAM cUcIL Manna, or GREELEY, coLonADo.

BEET BIGGER AND TOPPER.

Application led October 17, 1908'. Serial No. 458,176.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, linnn-x31 C. MAUER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Greeley, in the county of l/Veld and State oftolorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Beet Diggers and Toppers, of winch the following is a speci-` tication.

My invention is an improvement in beet diggers and toppers, and consists in certain novel vconstructions and combinations of parts hereinafterl described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings forming a part f hereof Figure 1 is a plan view of the improvement.- Fig. 2 is a side view.' Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section of ay portion of the machine. Fig. 4 is a partial plan viewwith parts of thevmachine removed. Fig. 5

is a bottom plan view of a portion ofthe carrier. F ig. o is a transverse section of the carrier on the line of the cutter. Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7i of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a transverse section on the line of the diggers. Fig. 9 is a side view of the diggers, Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view of aportion of the'conveyer, andFig. 11 is'an end'view.. The present embodiment of the invention comprises a frame consisting of side plates 1, 2, provided near their rear ends with bearings, in which is journaled the power shaft 4, having journaled on the ends thereof, the supporting Wheels 5.

Connected to the front ends of ythe side plates 1 and 2 are extension plates 6, converging at their front ends as at '7, and connected by a vclevis 8. The converging ends are supported by a bolster 9, which rests upon an axle 10, provided on its ends with wheels 11, the bolster being connected to the axle by Aa king-bolt 12. A tongue 13 is connected with the axle- 10, and a brace 14 extends from the rear of the axle upwardly enconverging ends of the extension plates.V Ver tical guide ways 16 are arranged on the eX- tension plates, and bars 17 are slidablein the guide ways, the lower ends ofl the bars being curved inwardly as at 18, and the upper ends are connected by a cross bar 19. The lower ends of the bars are provided with diggers 20, each of which .has adjustably secured thereto, a rearwardly projecting fender 21,

the fenders being bolted to the diggers andV support-ed by a b ock 22l arranged at the rear of the pivotal connection and rotatably connected with the digger. The block is eccen- 45 connected with the wheels 5.

n-icauy pivoted and a. win be evident that by .turning the same the fenders will be raised or lowered.

A. lilik 23 is connected with each of the bars 17 by one end, the other end being piv- Specication of Letters Patent. Patented Oc1;,26, 1909,

oted to forwardly projecting 'arms 24, on

aV rock shaft25 journaled in standards 26 connected with the extension plates, the said shaft being provided with another arm 27 connected yby a link 28 with a leverf29 pivoted-onl the side plate l, the said lever.` being provided with a spring actuated tooth 30, 'engaging a toothed quadrant 31 secured to the frame, the tooth being manipulatedy by a grip 32 pivoted on the lever. It willbe levldent from the description, that by manipulating the lever 29, the diggers may be raised and lowered in unison to rovide for digging beets, in' ridges of different depths. v

Between the side plates 1 and 2, is arranged an auxiliary frame consisting of-side plates 33, the f said plates being provided with bearings journaled on the power shaft which are journaled shafts 37, 38, each of the shafts beingprovided within the frame secured to the side plates'l and 2, andv the.

ends of the shaft 3S are extended beyond the auxiliary fra-me, and beyond the side plates 1 and 2, and are provided with pinions42 meshing with gear wheels 43 j our-v naled on-the 'power shaft 4 the said ear wheels beingprovided on their outer aces with ratchet wheels 44, which are normally in engagement with spring pressed'vpawls It will be understood that the power wheels are connected to the gear wheels vby the pawl and ratchet, which connection constrains the `gear wheels to rotate with the power wheels whe the said wheels move in a forward direction, but releases them when they move -in a rearward direction.

Near the front end vof the side plates 1 and 2 are arranged standards 46, in which is journaled a rock shaft 47 having forwardly project-ing arms 4S, connected by links 49 with the front ends of the side plates of the auxiliary frame. The shaft is provided with another arm 50, connected by .80 4, and with other bearings at each end, in

vILO

vmay be raised and lowered to 'correspond with the position of the digger.

'At the rear of the standardsv 46, are-ap.`

ranged otherfstandardsv connected by a cross bar 57, with one end of which is secured a spring plate 58 having connected with the other end a seat 59, and foot rests 60 are secured to the cross bar adjacent to the seat. y

- The carrier before mentioned comprlses two sprocket chains 61 and 62 connected at i spaced intervals by pairs of spaced rods 63 and between each pair of rods is arranged a cross bar 64 also connecting the chains. A plate (S5 is connected with each cross bar by means of bolts 66, an arbor 67 encircling each boltbetween the plate 'and the bar. A pair of gripping arms 68 are pivoted to each plate, comprising v,a gripping jaw 69, on one side of the pivot 70, and an outwardly curved cam arm 71 on the other side of the pivot. A spring 72 is arranged between each pair of armsnormally retainingr them in the position shown in Fig. 1, with the gripping jaws in spaced relation. The jaws are normally spaced apart from each other, a distance correspondilflf.,r .to the smallest size beet, which it is desired to top., all beets below such sizebeing rejected by the jawsp Adjacent to the lower run-of the carrier, and near the Vfront end of thel auxiliary frame are arranged' cams 73, supported by brackets 74: depending from the side plates of the auxiliary frame, which are adapted' to engage the cam arms 71 to open the jaws as they reach the front end. of the auxiliary frame, whereby to place'them in position for grasping the beet. A

Near the upper end of the auxiliary frame 'is arranged a cross bar 7 5 between the side plates, and a sickle blade 7 6 is mounted for reclprocatingvmovement in guide ways 77 on the cross'bar, the cross bar being pro-` vided with guard teeth 78. A link 79 is pivote'd by one end to one end of the sickleblade, the other end being pivoted to a disk y80 on a shaft'8l, journaled vin brackets 82 vconnected with the auxiliary frame, and an ranged on the outer face of the side plate. The rear end of the shaft is provided with a bevel gear 83, meshing wit-h a bevel gear 84; on the shaft 38 before mentioned. In front of the sickle blade 76 a guide bar 85 is connected with each of the side plates of the auxiliary frame, the said guide bar being adaptedto engage the cam Aarms ofthe gripping device whereby to tilt the gripping jaws slightly downwardly to bring the beet `in proper positionfor topping. v A pair of I than the thickness'of the smallest beet which.

will be grasped by the gripping jaws, whereby to' permit the top of thel beet to extend between the boards, but to prevent the crown of the beet passing therebetween, thns bringing the crown v in. proper position to be topped by the sickle blade. Thesaid blade is provided with two cutting lingers which are inclined away from eachother in the usual manner, and are adapted to receive the -top of the beet therebetween, so thatl when lthe sickle blade is moved in either direction a finger will be brought in contact with the top. By adjusting the blocks 88 with respect to the cross bar 89, the boards may be raised or lowered to` bring the. beet in the proper position for topping.

Near the rear end of the auxiliary frame f are arranged brackets 92, with each of which is Aconnected a. cam plate 93,-arra-nged to en'- gage the cam arms to open the gripping .jaws and to release the beets which are received by a conveyer to be described. y

Brackets 94 are connected with the rear ends of the side plates 1 and 2, the free ends of the brackets being connected 4by a cross bar 95, and at the center of the crossbar is journaled a vertical stud shaft 96, having secured thereto a bevel gear wheel 9-7 with which meshes a bevel pinion 98 on the end of a horizontal stud shaft 99, journaled in bearings 100 on the cross bar and the adjacent bracket. The shaft is provided between the bearings with a s rocket wheel 101, env

gagcd by a sprocket c lain 102, passing over a sprocket wheel 103 on the shaft 38and a pair of idlers 104 are journaled on the bracket .for 'engaging' the respective runs of the chain as shown in Fig. 3,' whereby to retain said runs from interfering with the move.

At each end of the side lates 108is jour-v naled a shaft 111, provide adjacent to each y to movethe conveyen a, gear-Wheel 118 on a stud shaft, connect- 'ed .with theadjacent side plate, and provided with a sprocket Wheel4 120', connected by, la sprocket chain 121, with a Asprocket wheel 122,- on afstud shaft 123 journaled ini a bracket 124' dependingvfrom the cross'piate.

107, the inner-'end ofthe shaftv being pro- 4videdlwith a bevel. pinion 125, meshingvvith the bevel. gearv97 before mentioned whergby i An apron 'i126v projects4 outwardly from each side platelOS adjacent to the rearv end of the carrier vprovided, with gripping de-A vices, the saidaprons being adapted-to. re, ceive, and deflect the delivered beets on "to the conveyer just described.l Thel said 'conf' veyer isrrotatablearound'the vertical' stud shaft, the 'two-disks acting as `aturn table, and. is secured fin its adjusted position by' with 4a-piii 128'on'e' .o :which is adapted to.

engage a perforation in a bracket 12),one of `which is secured toea-ch `side plate of the carrier'. frame, and the other with one 'ot a series of perforations 13,03: in' the foot plates' before-mentioned., i n

' It will be 'observed that the device is espe-l cially adapted, for-digging :and topping' sugar beets, which are generallyplanted in elevated ridges, and4 at 4spaced distances;

apart.'v Beets .below a certainv size are 'culled or rejected and the remainderinus't be topped attliecrown. v

In 'operation the machine is drawn through the field with the wheels on each side' of the ridge, and with the diggers adjusted a proper distance to enter the ridge-and elevate the beets.4 The vfrontend. 'oftlie carrier is adjusted to a position such that the gripping devices'will grasp the'beet as it leaves' the fenders.' The relation between. the gear wheels gt3 on' the power shaft and the pinions l2 on the shaft 38 corresponds tothe distance between the individual'beets in the row, the relation being such that the travel of the gripping devices will bring one device into position for grasping each beet, regardless of the -speed of the machine. .As the gripping device with the beet in place reaches the upper run of the carrier it will be evident that the beet will lie-reversed bringing the top downward, and as the beet passes up the auxiliary frame the top will encounter the sickle blade and be severed from the beet.' As the beet reaches the rear' ot' the carrier the gripping devicel is released` and the 'beet is The outer end of the shaft 111 deliveredv on tov-theiconveyer, which delivers it to one side of the machine. By adjusting the angle of inclination of the conveyer to may be delivered ifi acontinuous pile, and in position for loading. This delivery maybe upon either sident' the machine.

It will be observed from an inspection of Figs. 1, 4 and L5 that the gripping jaws have hooked ends the bills of the. hooks contactingl when ythe jaws are in normal position,` the said hooked ends serving to retain the grip.- ping part of the jaws in spaced relation with respect to each othey.- Idlers 132 are arranged beneath the conveyor from' which idlersthe sprocket chains passfor the puisv pose .of retaining'said cliainslfrom interference with the 'parts therebelovv. Guides 133 are provided lfoi-the sprocket .chains of the carrier at the rear of the cutting device, for lifting' said Vchains abovethe parts connected wit-h tlie axle 4. c

l v A boardJlOis supported byJ a bracket 131 s'ecui'edtov the trame and is arrangedbelow.

the c'utte'rbar, for the purpose of detlecting l, the tops to @one side of the machine.

A beetdigger and topper, comprising a mainframe, a shaft journaled transversely of the rear endof the traine, )Wheels on. the shaft', an auxiliary frame within the main frame, 'tlief rear end `ot said frame bein-gy journaled on the shaft, means in connection with the'rfront end of the auxiliary frame'.

for' raising and lowering thev saine,

an extensionl frame at thefront of the main -tranie,rdiggers on the extension frame,'.means for raising and lowering the diggers, a truck upon which the extension frame rests, and in pivotal connection with ,the said frame, a carrier on the auxiliary fran-ie, said carrier' consisting of4 spaced chains connected at spaced intervals by pairs of rods, a' bar arranged between each. pair of rods, a plate connected -with the outer 'face or the bar` and spaced apart therefrom,

a' pair oit-gripping arins pivoted to each plate, each arm comprising a gripping ]aw,

,the machine, the beets from the several rows for cooperating withvtlie jaw of the other arm of the pair, and au outwardly curved cam' arm, a spring normally tending to torce the jaws toward eacli-iother, cams near the lower end ot' the carrier, for engaging thel arms to open the jaws, whereby to permit them to grasp the beet, a cutting device below the upper run of the cairier yfor topping the beet, cams at the rear of the carrier for engaging the arms to release the beet, agconveyer for receiving the beet and delivering it to the side of the machine, a connection between the wheels and the carrier for driving the same, and a connection between the Wheels and the conveyer for operating said conveyer.

2. A beet digger and topper, comprising a wheeled frame, diggers at the front ofthe frame,'an auxiliar)7 frame adjustably mounted within the main frame, and provided at each end with sprocket wheels, a carrier supported by the sprocket wheels, and consisting of spaced chains connected at spaced' intervalsfby pairs of rods, a bar arranged betweeneachpair of rods, a plate connected .withthe outer face of tlieibar and spaced apart therefrom,v a pair of gripping arms pivoted to each plate, eacli arm comprising a gripping jaw for cooperating with .the jaw of the other arm of the pair, and an outwardly curved cam arm, a spring normally tendingto force the jaws toward each other., cainsnear the lower end 'of the carrier, for engaging the arms to open the jaws, whereby to permitthem to grasp the beet,

. a cutting device below the upper run of the cai'riei'i-i'or topping the beet,vcams at the rear of the carrier forl engaging' the arms to release the beet, a conveyer ior receiving the beet and delivering it to the side of the machine, a connection between the wheelsv and thecarrier for driving the same, and a connection between the wheels and the conveyeil for operating said conveyer.

f 3. In abeet digger and topper, means for',

digging the beets, and means behind the digging means forreceiving the beets therefrom, said means Vcomprising an adjustable frame providedat each end with sprocket wheels, chains on the wheels, and spaced apart from each other, said chains being connected `at spaced intervals by pairs-of rods, a bar arranged between each pair of rods, a ,plate connected with the outer face of the bar and spaced' apart therefrom, 4a pair of gripping arms pivoted to each plate, eacharm comprising aA gripping jaw for cooperating with the jaw of the other arm of the pair, andan outwardly curved cam arm, a spring normally tending to ferrie the jaws toward each other, means for retaining the engaging faces of the jaws in spaced relation, means near the digging -device for opening Ithe jaws to receive a beet, means` gripping jaws,iiieans on the lower runzio the carrier for opening the jaws to receive' the beets from the digger, a topping device below the upper run of the carrierfor topping the beets, and means at the rear of the carrier for opening the'jaws to release the In a beet topper andvdigger, means for topping the beetscomprising a transversely movable sickle forv toppii'ig the beets and a plurality of gripping devices for seizing the 4beets and moving them to the sickle, said devices comprising eachl a pair of gripping larms having gripping jaws spaced. apart from each other andcam arms, means for engaging the arms for opening the 'jaws for receiving the beets and means for engaging the arms to open the jaws to release the beets.

6. In a beet topper and digger, a carrier for the beets comprising spaced sprocket chains connected at spaced intervals, pairs of grippingarms pivoted on each connectionl between the chains, a spring acting to move the arms together, means at one. end of the carrier for opening the arms to-receive the` beets, means, at the other end for ymoving lthe arms to release thebeets and a topping device intermediate the ends of the carrier.

7. In a beet topper and digger, a carriery for the beets comprising spaced sprocket chains connected at spaced intervals, a pair of gripping arms pivoted on each connection between. the chains, a spring acting to move the arms together, 'means at one 4end of the carrier forvopening the jaws to receive the beets, a topper intermediate .the length of the carrier, means for tilting the gripping :arms to bring the beets into .proper pbsition for engagement by the topper, and

means at the opposite end of the carrier for moving the arms to release the beets. I y

8. In a` beet' topper and diggr, a carrier vfor the beet comprising spaced sprocket chains connected at spaced inter-vals, pairs of gripping jaws pivoted on each connection between the chainsa spring acting to -l -move the jaws together, means at one end of the carrier for opening the jaws to receive the beets and means at the other end for opening the jaws to release the beets. WILLIAM CUCIL MAUER. Witnesses 2 l .A

CHARLES FRANCIS TEED,

ALBERT JOHN CoNELoN. 

